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Kenton

Kenton

4.1
$506,995 Average Value
$339 Average Price per Sq Ft
20 Homes For Sale

Both neighborhood businesses and city-wide attractions define Kenton

A 31-foot statue of Paul Bunyan in a red checkered button-down towers behind Kenton’s TriMet MAX Light Rail station; since its installation for the Oregon Centennial Exposition and International Trade Fair in 1959, it’s become a symbol for the up-and-coming North Portland neighborhood of Kenton. The statue marks the beginning of Kenton’s commercial stretch along North Denver Avenue, lined with neighborhood eateries, boutiques and local coffee shops. While the charming businesses along North Denver Avenue define the southern, residential portion of the neighborhood, northern Kenton is home to city-wide attractions, including the Portland International Raceway and Portland Expo Center.

Paul Bunyan statue on N. Denver Ave. and N. Interstate Ave. in Kenton
Paul Bunyan statue on N. Denver Ave. and N. Interstate Ave. in Kenton
The Portland Expo Center hosts various events throughout the year in Kenton.
The Portland Expo Center hosts various events throughout the year in Kenton.
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Types of homes, housing costs and median sales prices

A diverse mix of homes, built over the last century, makes up the housing stock in Kenton. Arts and Crafts-era bungalows still stand from the 1910s and 1920s, and their architecture is reflected in the neighborhood’s most recent homes, constructed from the 1990s onward. Midcentury Minimal Traditional bungalows were a common addition to the neighborhood between the two waves of Craftsman-style homes, and all three styles range between the low $300,000s and the low $800,000s. Kenton is also home to a number of two- and three-bedroom townhomes — mostly new construction — that sell between the high $200,000s and the mid $400,000s. The median sales price across the community was about $480,000 at the beginning of 2026.

New homes built on narrow lots in the Kenton neighborhood.
New homes built on narrow lots in the Kenton neighborhood.
A brightly colored door and matching lawn art in Kenton.
A brightly colored door and matching lawn art in Kenton.
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Peninsula Elementary School is committed to student success in the Kenton neighborhood.
Peninsula Elementary School is committed to student success in the Kenton neighborhood.

Neighborhood schools

Portland Public Schools — one of the largest districts in the Pacific Northwest — serves Kenton. Students may start their K-12 journeys at the highly rated Peninsula K-5 and Ockley Green Middle School. They are also zoned for both Roosevelt High School and the highly rated Jefferson High School, a magnet school with a Middle College for Advanced Studies. Ninth- and 10th-graders in the neighborhood are guaranteed admission to Jefferson High, while upperclassmen require principal review. The school offers dual credit courses on campus through a partnership with Portland Community College, as well as a three-year Biomedical and Health Sciences Program. Its dance program was established in 1975, and students can join either the Jefferson Dancers or the Jefferson Dancers II student company.

Public transportation and commuting from Kenton

Interstate 5 borders the neighborhood on its east side, making for a straightforward, 7-mile commute to Downtown Portland — which can take around 20 minutes during rush hour. Otherwise, commuters can catch the TriMet MAX Light Rail Yellow line downtown from the neighborhood station at North Denver Avenue. Several TriMet buses stop throughout the neighborhood as well, and the Yellow Bus connects downtown to the Portland Expo Center. Kenton is somewhat bike-friendly, with shared roads and designated bike lanes throughout the neighborhood.

Downtown Vancouver is less than 5 miles to the north. Hayden Island is a long strip of land between Kenton and Vancouver and sometimes the cause of back-ups. “Traffic can get bad getting in and off the island,” says Casey Riley, the owner of Riley & Company at Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty.

Things to do in Kenton

The neighborhood’s main commercial stretch is North Denver Avenue. “It’s a small area with a downtown feel. It has tons of restaurants and shops and a couple of art galleries,” Riley says. “It’s one of my favorites.” Neighborhood haunts include:

  • Kenton Club, a live music venue that’s open till 2 a.m. every night
  • Posies Bakery & Café, a busy coffee shop serving breakfast and lunch with gluten-free options
  • Po’ Shines, a Black-owned eatery that crafts Cajun cuisine, soul food and classic sides
  • Presso Coffee Co., a chic cafe housed in a unique pink stucco storefront
  • Mayfly, a brewery that puts on drag bingo events
The Kenton Farmers Market takes place on Wednesday evenings from June through September at the corner of North Denver Avenue and North McClellan Street, bringing fresh produce and local products to the neighborhood.

Across the Columbia Slough, the Portland Expo Center hosts large-scale gatherings, like the Portland Seafood & Wine Festival and the Portland Holiday Market. Less than a mile from that, drivers zip around the tracks at the Portland International Raceway, which hosts IndyCar, NASCAR, drag racing and motocross events.

The Portland Expo Center hosts various events throughout the year in Kenton.
The Portland Expo Center hosts various events throughout the year in Kenton.
Shopping on N Denver Ave in the Kenton Neighborhood makes running errands easy.
Shopping on N Denver Ave in the Kenton Neighborhood makes running errands easy.
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Outdoor amenities

Kenton Park is the neighborhood’s main green space. Trails often used by dog-walkers weave around the park’s amenities, which include a playground, a splash pad, a basketball court and two softball fields. Just northwest of the neighborhood, the Smyth and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area covers roughly 2,000 acres, making it one of the country’s largest urban wetlands. Parkgoers can explore the area by boat or via the roughly mile-long Interlakes Trail, keeping an eye out for muskrats, mink, otters, bald eagles and coyotes. Across the street, the Heron Lakes Golf Course includes two 18-hole championship courses and a grass tee driving range.

Smyth and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area offers residents a chance to be with nature in Kenton.
Smyth and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area offers residents a chance to be with nature in Kenton.
A dog walker enjoys the open park early in the morning in the Kenton neighborhood.
A dog walker enjoys the open park early in the morning in the Kenton neighborhood.
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Noise in Kenton

Residents on the east side of the neighborhood may hear traffic noise from the interstate, while the sounds of commercial and industrial trains come from the tracks near the Columbia Slough.

Julia Straka
Written By
Julia Straka
Tim Acock
Photography Contributed By
Tim Acock
Jackson Nacey
Video By
Jackson Nacey

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Portland International

29 min drive

Subway

Kenton/N Denver

Subway

Delta Park/Vanport

Subway

Expo Center

Bus

N Willis & Washburne

Bus

N Lombard & Peninsular

Bus

2600 Block N Marine

Bus

N Willis & Chautauqua

Bus

N Willis & Bayard

Bus

N Denver & Watts

Bus

N Denver & Russet

Reviews

Niche Reviews
4.1 4 Reviews
5.0 Current Resident
7/21/2017 Niche Review
Beautiful, quiet neighborhood with a nice park and friendly neighbors. The community is closeknit and the neighbors help out each other. Also, many front yards with lovely gardens.
Are you familiar with the Kenton neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Kenton US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 6 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
2,845
Number of Homes for Sale
20
Median Year Built
1949
Months of Supply
1.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,498
Significantly below the national average
1,934
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,544
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
886
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
623
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,791

Open Houses

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Rental Home Trends

Number of Homes for Rent
12
Median Rent
$2,400
Median Single Family Home Rent
$2,695
Median 3 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$2,698
Median Condo Rent
$1,795
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$1,795

Demographics

Total Population
7,979
Median Age
40
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.2%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$91,629
Above the national average
$79,597
Average Household Income
$106,557

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
95.2%
College Graduates
50.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.5%
% Population in Labor Force
77.4%
Above the national average
64.9%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
78°F
Annual Snowfall
3''

Area Factors

Very bikeable

Bikeability®

80 / 100

Somewhat walkable

Walkability®

30 / 100

Limited public transit

Transit®

20 / 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic

Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Kenton